Expert: David Burritt - 6/11/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have an original condition Golden Nugget 5 cent Slot machint. Although the pull handle shows sigh of use the rest of the machine would grade a 9. This machine was never restored and still has the "crackel" black finish. Also had two golden statues and two golden nuggets on front as well as the pay out plate. I know that many of the 25 cent machines are fake. I was offered $1200 sight unseen, except picture, so I suspect it is worth more so I would like to have some sort of idea.
my father was in the coin machine business in the 40's and 50's in New Orleans and I got the machine from him in the 60's.

ANSWER: If, and I must emphasize IF, you do have an ORIGINAL Mills Golden Nugget and not a revamp or reproduction machine, and it is in decent condition then it is worth significantly more that $1,200. If it were not for the fakes out there your machine might be worth a small fortune. However, the fakes have depressed the values of the originals. There are some collectors who don't even want an original in their collection because of all the fakes that are out there. In any case, if it is an original, I think it is worth more than $1,200.

Go to www.AntiqueSlotMachinePriceGuide.com and do a search for Golden Nugget. I know they have data for at least one original that sold at auction a year or so ago.

If the machine is a revamp or a reproduction take the money and run.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I CHECKED YOUR RECOMMENDED SITE AND WILL GIVE INFO IN ORDER OF SITE AND I AM CONFUSED, UNIT IS ORIGINAL IN MANY INSTANCES BUT POSSIBLY FAKE IN OTHERS??????
THE SIDES SEEM TO BE WOOD NOT FO4RMICA
IT HAS A SMALLER COIN TRAY
IT HAS TWO HORIZONTAL BARS AND TWO UPRIGHTS
HAS STEEL PLATES SCREWED TO THE SIDES
THE PAYOUT PLATE IS STAMPED NOT DECALED
THE BACK IS HEAVY DIE-CAST WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE A PICTURE FRAME OUTLINE IN THE CENTER
WILL PAY 2 FOR ONE CHERRY
I MADE A TOTAL OF EIGHT PICTURES BUT ONLY ONE WILL LOAD.
PROBABLY WORKING YOU TO DEATH BUT MAYBE NOT, I COLLECT OLD LIONEL TRAINS AND ALTHOUGH NO TRUE PROBLEM WITH FAKES WE DO HAVE A FEW SNAKES IN THE GRASS. AS WE SAY IN TRAINS KNOW YOUR TRAINS OR KNOW YOUR DEALER.


Answer
All the originals have Formica sides. All the fakes and revamps have oak for the side.

From looking at the picture and from the information you have supplied, I am 99% sure you have a revamped machine and not an original.

The machine probably started its life as a Mills Black Cherry or Golden Falls. Someone purchased aftermarket parts (nuggets, dolls, reel strips, award bib) to make it into a Golden Nugget.

At least your machine is not a total fake, but it is not an original Golden Nugget (in my opinion).